Sony Quash 2013 PlayStation 4 Release Date Hopes

Sony's Kaz Hirai has clarified that the company will not be unveiling any next-generation technology at 2012's E3, killing consumers' hopes of a 2013 PS4 release.IBTimes UK

Sony's Kaz Hirai has clarified that the company will not be unveiling any next-generation technology at 2012's E3, killing consumers' hopes of a 2013 PS4 release.

Hirai was reported as making the comments during a round table discussion with journalists at 2012's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). In it numerous media outlets reported Hirai as confirming that Sony planned to hold to its previous 10 year life cycle plans for the PlayStation 3.

"[W]e are not making any announcements at E3," GamesIndustry.biz reported Hirai as saying. "I've always said a 10-year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away from that."

The PlayStation 3 was originally released in 2006, meaning that if Hirai's comments are true, Sony fans will not be seeing a next-generation console until 2016 at the earliest.

Hirai's comments run contrary to a rumour from MCV magazine, which claimed 2012's expo would be the "Biggest E3 ever" with both Sony and Microsoft planning to unveil "new consoles."

MCV alleged it had learned the news after discovering an email sent out by Sony to third-party games developers, mirroring PlayStation Europe boss Jim Ryan. The boss was previously reported saying Sony planned to release its new console alongside Microsoft's.

Not letting a lack of official word from Microsoft or Sony get in the way, tech analysts - citing another unconfirmed rumour from industry cite Develop - went on to allege that the email confirmed the fabled PlayStation 4's presence at 2012's E3.

At the time of writing Sony had not responded to the International Business Times UK's requests for confirmation of Hirai's comments.